The Journal News - Russell Sues Journalists, GOP Leaders

News Article

By Gerald McKinstry

A congressional candidate whose writings on race and religion gained national attention is suing nine people, claiming they smeared his name and undermined his candidacy in the press and on television.

Republican Jim Russell, 56, is seeking $9 million in damages, or $1 million from each person named in the lawsuit.

He claimed various members of The Journal News, News 12, Regional News Network and the state and local GOP defamed his character, ruined his reputation and caused him emotional distress.

Russell, who has run for Congress five times, including his latest candidacy, last month lost the GOP's backing in his race against Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey.

The Republican Party dropped its support of Russell after it was reported that some of his past works included racist and anti-Semitic themes.

"We will not tolerate this," Russell said Tuesday, standing outside Westchester County Court in White Plains. "We will not tolerate political correctness being imposed upon us."

Despite the party's withdrawal of support, Russell still will appear on the Republican line on the Nov. 2 ballot in his bid to win the 18th Congressional District, which covers most of Westchester and part of Rockland counties. Russell also still has the Conservative line.

According to the lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court, Russell challenged a variety of news accounts that called his views and writings racist. He accused the media, which he labeled the "liberal media," of attacking and undermining the campaigns of "patriotic candidates."

"It's been reckless and it's been false, and that's why we're filing this lawsuit," he said.

Two reporters were served as they were covering Russell's news conference.

The lawsuit names Journal News columnist Phil Reisman, reporter Leah Rae and political cartoonist Matt Davies. It also named John Goff of News 12, Richard French of RNN, Justin Elliott of Salon.com, Douglas Colety of the Westchester Republican Party, Alexander Carey of the state Republican Party and Mark Weitzman of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

Weitzman spoke on the record for an article in The Journal News.

"We believe this suit is without merit," said Henry Freeman, editor and vice president of news for The Journal News.

Representatives from News 12, RNN, Salon.com and the state GOP declined to comment on the lawsuit. Colety and Weitzman could not be reached for comment.

The lawsuit stems from reports and articles on Russell's 16-page essay, "The Western Contribution to World History."

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